Phrases and Idioms

Meaning

801.

rough – rough and ready

Simple or crude but effective.

802.

round – go the rounds

To pass from one person to another.

803.

round – in round figures

Express exact numbers as the nearest whole numbers.

804.

round – round of applause

Audience or people are clapping to show their appreciation of something.

805.

round – round someone up

To gather together a number of people

806.

rub – rub one’s hands

Indicate personal satisfaction with what one has done or what has happened.

807.

rub – rub shoulders with

Come into contact with.

808.

rule - as a rule

Usually the case; usually true.

809.

rule - rule of law

Situation in which everyone is subject to and abides by the law.

810.

rule - rule of thumb

A rough guide based on experience rather than theory.

811.

rule - rule the roost

To be in control.

812.

runner - do a runner

To flee the scene so as to escape from or avoid something.

813.

running – in running order

Sequence in which events are arranged to take place.

814.

running – in/out of the running

In/no longer in a contest.

815.

rush – rush one’s fences

Do something hurriedly

816.

sad – sadder but wiser

Learn something after its effect has become clear or understood.

817.

safety – safety in numbers

Used to mean less danger in a lot of animals, people, etc. being together.

818.

salt - worth one’s salt

Good at one’s job.

819.

same – same to you

May you have the same thing.

820.

save –  save one’s breath

Not worth saying anything.

821.

save – save one’s skin

Look after one’s own safety.

822.

save – save the day

Solve a problem.

823.

scene - behind the scenes

In secret away from public view.

824.

scene – hit the scene

To arrive; appear.

825.

scene – not one’s scene

Not something someone is interested in.

826.

score –  on that score

Concerning something just mentioned.

827.

score –  settle a score

To inflict revenge on someone who has caused an injury or harm to oneself.

828.

scrape - in a scrape

In difficulty.

829.

scrape - scrape the barrel

Using the last, remaining, low quality of resources.

830.

scratch - scratch a living

Manage with just enough to survive on.

831.

scratch – scratch one’s head

Be confused, seeking a solution.

832.

scratch – scratch the surface

Deal with a matter but not thoroughly enough.

833.

scratch - up to scratch

Good enough to meet a certain standard.

834.

second - second to none

The best.

835.

seller - a seller’s market

Situation in which demand of goods and shares is more than supply, and prices are generally high.

836.

sense – make sense of

To find or seek out  the meaning of something

837.

serve – serve a sentence

Spend a period of time in a prison.

838.

serve – serve one’s country

To fight for one’s country.

839.

serve – serve someone right

Someone who deserves the punishment or misfortune.

840.

service - be of service

Be available to help if help is needed.

841.

set – be set on

To be very determined about doing something.

842.

shadow – shadow of death

Intense gloom or peril.

843.

shelf - off the shelf

Ready for purchase without having to place an order.

844.

shelf - on the shelf

No longer useful or desirable; too old to get married.

845.

shit - be shitting bricks

To be in an extreme anxious and frightened state.

846.

shit – full of shit

Use to describe what someone says is stupid.

847.

shit – in the shit

To be in deep trouble.

848.

shoestring - on a shoestring

Cheaply, without spending much money.

849.

short – in short supply

Insufficient to meet the demand of a commodity, etc.

850.

short – short of breath

Breathing with short, quick breaths.

851.

shot – a long shot

A poor guess or attempt at something

852.

shot – a parting shot

A remark that one makes before leaving.

853.

shoulder – shoulder to shoulder

Together with mutual cooperation and support.

854.

sick – sick to death

Extremely fed up and annoyed by constant exposure to something.

855.

sight – at first sight

First impression conveyed by something; when first seen.

856.

sight – raise one’s sights

Aim to achieve something.

857.

sinew -sinews of war

Money.

858.

six - sixes and sevens, at

In a disorganized and confused state.

859.

skin - skin and bone, be

Very thin.

860.

skin - skin someone alive

To mete out very harsh punishment to someone.

861.

sleep – put to sleep

To administer drug or anaesthetic to someone to make them unconscious; to kill an animal painlessly.

862.

sleep – sleep a wink

Sleep for a brief moment.

863.

sleep – sleep on it

To defer (a decision, etc.) to a later date.

864.

slip – let something slip

To accidentally make known information that is meant to be kept secret.

865.

slip – slip a disc

Suffer intense pain when a piece of the series of small bones forming the backbone becomes displaced.

866.

slip – slip of the tongue

Make a mistake when speaking.

867.

slip – slip one’s mind/memory

To forget to do something.

868.

slog - slog it out

To battle or compete fiercely for something.

869.

sly on the sly

Secretly; done in a surreptitious way.

870.

smell - smell a rat

To detect something suspicious.

871.

snap – in a snap

In a moment, immediately.

872.

son – son of  a bitch

Used to show total disrespect for or address someone in an insulting and offensive way.

873.

son – son of  a gun

Used to refer to someone.

874.

sort – a sort of

To not exactly describe someone or something.

875.

sort – in some sort

To a certain extent.

876.

sort – of a sort/of sorts

Of an inferior or unusual kind, not worthy of its name.

877.

sort - out of sorts

Not in one’s normal good health.

878.

sort – sort of

To some extent; partly.

879.

spare – spare no expense

To use unlimited amount of money as is required.

880.

sparks – spark will fly

There will be a heated exchange.

881.

speak – on speaking terms

Slightly acquainted.

882.

speak – so to speak

Not exactly as it means; in some sense.

883.

speak – speak evil/ill/well of

To refer unfavourably/criticize/praise

884.

speak – speak one’s mind

To express freely exactly what one thinks.

885.

spick - spick and span

Completely clean and tidy.

886.

spill – spill one’s guts

Reveal willingly much information about something.

887.

spill – spill the beans

To accidentally make known what is previously unknown or secret information.

888.

spin – spin a story/yarn

Tell an untrue story to deceive someone.

889.

split – a split second

An extremely brief moment of time.

890.

split – split one’s sides

Laugh hysterically.

891.

sport - be a sport

Used when seeking favour of someone.

892.

spout - up the spout

Unsuccessful, wasted; pregnant.

893.

spread – spread one’s wings

To expand one’s knowledge, experience, or interest

894.

staff - staff of life

Staple food, especially bread.

895.

stand – I stand corrected

Ready to admit one’s view or judgement is wrong.

896.

stand – stand in line

Queue up.

897.

stand – stand one’s ground

Stick resolutely to one’s opinion, etc.

898.

start – for a start

To begin with.

899.

start – to start with

To deal with the first thing or first part of something.

900.

state – state of affairs

Situation.